Quick release and adjustable picture frame clamp

ABSTRACT

A picture frame clamp having four corner brackets for holding the respective corners at a right angular relationship. The four corner brackets are four diagonally extending strap lengths which are connected adjacent the intersecting ends thereof by a toggle type clamp to firmly clamp the corners together in a right angular relationship. The straps are connected to the corners so as to be capable of varying the length thereof to the clamp at the intersection thereby to permit the clamp to be adaptable for use for different size picture frames.

United States Patent [191 [111 3,849,920

Trowhridge 1 Nov. 26, 1974 54] QUICK RELEASE AND ADJUSTABLE PICTUREFRAME CLAMP [76] Inventor: Leonard D. Trowbridge, 16200 Woodbridge,Harvey, 11]. 60426 [22] Filed: Feb. 22, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 444,972

[52] US. Cl. 40/155, 40/209 [51] Int. Cl. G09f l/l2 [58] Field of Search40/209, 155, 152.1; 248/488, 490; 24/274 P, 68 SK [56] References CitedUNITED STATES PATENTS 2,185,084 12/1939 Hutaff 248/488 2,209,972 8/1940Horwitt 40/152.1

2,268,211 12/1941 Hatorn t 24/274 P 2,459,348 1/1949 Webb et a1 24/68 SK3,754,343 8/1973 Popeil 40/155 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 5762/1879 Great Britain 40/155 Primary Examiner-Robert W. MlichellAssistant Examiner-Wenceslao J. Contreras Attorney, Agent, or Firm-SabinC. Bronson [57] ABSTRACT A picture frame clamp having four cornerbrackets for holding the respective corners at a right angular rela'tionship. The four corner brackets are four diagonally extending straplengths which are connected adjacent the intersecting ends thereof by atoggle type clamp to firmly clamp the corners together in a rightangular relationship.

The straps are connected to the comers so as to be capable of varyingthe length thereof to the clamp at the intersection thereby to permitthe clamp to be adaptable for use for different size picture frames.

6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures O in, O 23 I; 0 26 m 2| u 18 [6K 16 I4 u HQUICK RELEASE AND ADJUSTABLE PICTURE FRAME CLAMP BACKGROUND AND SUMMARYOF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to clamps or fixtures forclamping and assembling a picture frame in a manner such that thecorners are held in a true right angular relationship.

Briefly the picture frame fixture of the present invention comprisesgenerally four brackets each having right angular walls which engage theright angular walls forming the corners of the picture frame. A lengthof strap extends diagonally from each of the corner brackets and isconnected thereto. Each of the straps is adjustable relative to itsrespective bracket so as to permit the clamp to be used for differentsize picture frames. A quick release toggle clamp is connected to theinner ends of each of the strap lengths so as to tightly and quicklyclamp the corners.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a pictureframe clamp embodying the structure of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken generally along the lines 2-2 ofFIG. 2 showing the toggle lock linkage.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken generally along the lines 3-3 ofFIG. 1 showing the typical connection of the strap means at each of thecorner brackets.

FIG. 4 is an end view of the fixture.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary top plan view of another embodiment of pictureframe clamp embodying the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view taken generally along the lines 66 ofFIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to FIGS. 14 thereis shown one embodiment of a picture frame clamp 10 incorporating thestructure of the present invention.

The clamp 10 includes four comer brackets 11 of identical construction.

The brackets 11 each include a generally rectangular base 12 along twoof the outer sides of which projects a pair of walls 13 and 14 which aredisposed at right an gles. The walls 13 and 14 serve to maintain thecorners of a picture frame P in right angular relationship as shown.

One end of a diagonally extending strap length 16 is disposed in adiagonally extending slot or groove 17. Disposed over the slot 17 andfixed to the base 12 is a plate 18. A pivot stud 19 is threaded orotherwise suitably fixed to the plate 18. A hook 21 is pivotallyconnected to the stud 19 and a hooked end 22 thereof is received in oneof a plurality of lengthwise spaced openings 23 provided in the straplength 16. Upon lifting of the hook 21 about the pivot stud 19 thehooked end 22 is disengaged from the opening 23 so that the strap lengthis freely slidable within the groove 17. This permits the length of thestrap lengths 16 to be varied so that different size picture frames maybe assembled.

In the embodiment shown the four strap lengths 16 are arranged in twopairs, of which one pair is connected at the inner ends by a bight 24and the other pair by a block 26.

An adjustment bolt 27 passes beneath the bight 24 and is threaded intothe block 26. A toggle clamp 28 is pivotally connected to a pivot block29 threaded to an oppositely threaded end of the adjustment bolt 27. Theclamp 28 has a pair of depending arms 31 through which the bight 24extends. Lifting of the clamp 28 about the pivot block 29 allows theoppositely disposed pairs of strap lengths to be moved outwardlyrelative to each other so that the picture frame P may be released orremoved from clamp 10. When the clamp 28 is depressed the bight 24 andthe block 26 are drawn toward each other so that the corner brackets 11are drawn into clamped engagment with the comers of the picture frameand thereby retain the corners at a true right angle. Thereafter theframe corners may be glued or otherwise fixed relative to each other.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6 there is shown another embodiment of a straplength 51 for varying the length thereof when attached to the cornerbrackets 12a. The strap lengths 51 each include a Z-shaped length 52having a hooked end 53 seatable in a selective one of a pl urality ofdiagonally disposed openings 55. The other end 54 is formed with anopening which slidably receives a straight run 56 of an L-shaped length57. The hooked end 58 of the length 57 is seatable in a selective one ofopenings 59 formed in run 61 of the Z length 52. The other end of thelength 57 is connected to the block 26 in a pin 61. Thus by selectivelylocating the hooked end 53 in an opening 55 and the hooked end 58 in anopening 59, the length of the strap 51 may be varied to accommodatedifferent picture frame sizes.

In all other respects the structure of the picture frame clamp issimilar to that described in connection with the embodiment of FIGS. 14.

What is claimed is:

l. A picture frame clamp comprising four corner brackets having wallmeans for engaging the four corners of a picture frame so as to maintainthe corners at right angles relative to each other, diagonally extendingstrap means attached to each of said corners, a bight connecting two ofsaid strap means, threaded block means connecting the two remaining onesof said strap means, and toggle clamp means connecting said bight andsaid block for moving said corner brackets toward each other to clampthe corners of a picture frame, and away from each other to release thepicture frame.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said toggle clamp meanscomprises a bolt threaded at one end into said block, and a clamp handlepivotally mounted adjacent the other end of said bolt, said clamp handleembracing said bight so that turning movement of said clamp handle aboutits pivot causes the bight to be moved toward or away from said threadedblock.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said strap means are ofadjustable length relative to said corner brackets.

4. The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein said corner brackets eachinclude a diagonally disposed spaced opening and said strap meansincludes telescoping lengths of which one length is fixed to said bightor said bracket and the other length is formed with a hook engageablewithin a selective one of said openings in said corner brackets, andwherein the said one of said lengths of said strap means is providedwith a hooked end which is selectively positionable in one of apluralcorner blocks include a diagonally disposed slot for guiding saidstrap and wherein said strap means includes a plurality of spacedopenings, and hook means mounted on said bracket engageable with aselective one of said openings to vary the length of the strap

1. A picture frame clamp comprising four corner brackets having wallmeans for engaging the four corners of a picture frame so as to maintainthe corners at right angles relative to each other, diagonally extendingstrap means attached to each of said corners, a bight connecting two ofsaid strap means, threaded block means connecting the two remaining onesof said strap means, and toggle clamp means connecting said bight andsaid block for moving said corner brackets toward each other to clampthe corners of a picture frame, and away from each other to release thepicture frame.
 2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein saidtoggle clamp means comprises a bolt threaded at one end into said block,and a clamp handle pivotally mounted adjacent the other end of saidbolt, said clamp handle embracing said bight so that turning movement ofsaid clamp handle about its pivot causes the bight to be moved toward oraway from said threaded block.
 3. The invention as defined in claim 2wherein said strap means are of adjustable length relative to saidcorner brackets.
 4. The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein saidcorner brackets each include a diagonally disposed spaced opening andsaid strap means includes telescoping lengths of which one length isfixed to said bight or said bracket and the other length is formed witha hook engageable within a selective one of said openings in said cornerbrackets, and wherein the said one of said lengths of said strap meansis provided with a hooked end which is selectively positionable in oneof a plurality of openings provided in the other of said lengths of saidstrap means.
 5. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said clamphandle is mounted on pivot support means threaded on said bolt to athread of opposite hand from the thread entering said block means. 6.The invention as defined in claim 5 wherein said corner blocks include adiagonally disposed slot for guiding said strap and wherein said strapmeans includes a plurality of spaced openings, and hook means mounted onsaid bracket engageable wiTh a selective one of said openings to varythe length of the strap means.